South Korea to amend subordinate regulations of Wastes Control Act centralizing rules for toxic waste treatment

On August 3, 2023, the South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced that it will issue a preliminary notice of legislation of draft partial amendments to the Presidential Decree on the Wastes Control Act and to the enforcement rules thereof, from August 4, 2023 to September 15, 2023. These amendments aim to centralize the management of waste containing toxic chemicals and to improve waste-related regulations. The draft amendments integrate the collection, transportation, and disposal procedures for wastes containing toxic chemicals, which have been managed separately under the Wastes Control Act and the Chemicals Control Act, into the Wastes Control Act, while supplementing the relevant management standards under the Wastes Control Act, thereby filling a gap in safety management.